Brook Hill Guard routs the Red Devils

by By Michelle Dillon michelle@thecherokeean.com

Brook Hill vanquished the Huntington Red Devils in a 64-34 victory.

Quarterback Garrett Esposito completed 26 of 41 pass attempts for a 63 percent passing rate, 404 yards and seven touchdowns. Quarterback Casper Engqvist completed his single passing attempt for a 21-yard touchdown.

Receivers Seth Moss and Carson Richards were the go-to men for the night. Moss posted nine catches for 270 yards and five touchdowns. Richards hauled in 13 passes for 107 yards and two touchdowns. David Roberts had two receptions for 25 yards and a touchdown.

Kicker Jake Shaffer went 100 percent for the night both in extra points (six for six) and field goals, going two for two from 22 and 24 yards.

The defense was hot with several members posting multiple statistics. Lane Barter owned nine tackles, two for losses, a sack and a pass deflection. Valdemar Henriksen added six tackles, one for a loss, one sack and one pass deflection. JaKelyn Morgan added five tackles and three pass breakups while Nico Flores also recorded five tackles. Of Jere Saranpaa’s four tackles, three were for losses, and he had two sacks. Nick LaRocca added four tackles, two for losses, and two sacks.

Shaffer gained four tackles on the night, one for a loss, and one interception. Moss posted three tackles and three pass deflections. Axel Isakkson also had three tackles, one for a loss, and one sack. Jaylon Caldwell recorded two tackles and a pass breakup. Philip Obaseki had a tackle for a loss and a sack. Petr Svoboda added a tackle.

Less than four minutes into the game, quarterback Esposito hit Richards for a 12-yard touchdown pass. With a three-yard run by Fisher Bass on the two-point conversion, the Guard took an 8-0 lead. Esposito then found Seth Moss on a 60-yard pass play for the Guard’s next score. Although the two-point attempt failed, Brook Hill extended their lead to 14-0. Another pass from Esposito to Moss near the three-minute mark put the Guard into the end zone again. The kick from Shaffer was good and Brook Hill led, 21-0. With 16 seconds remaining in the period, Huntington crossed the goal line on a three-yard run and their extra point kick was successful. The Red Devils were on the scoreboard, but down 7-21.

The second quarter opened with the Esposito hitting Roberts on a 24-yard pass. With the extra point, the Guard was up, 28-7. Huntington responded with a 48-yard touchdown pass and extra point kick, giving them 14 to Brook Hill’s 28.

In less than a minute from the Huntington score, the Guard entered the end zone on a 75-yard pass from Esposito to Moss. Another successful PAT from Shaffer put the score at 35-14. The next score was a five-yard toss from Esposito to Richards. Once more the kick was good and Brook Hill upped the score, 42-14. The Red Devils scored on a 68-yard pass, but the extra kick was blocked by LaRocca, leaving the score at 42-20. The final points for the first half came off the foot of Shaffer as he hit a 22-yard field goal. Brook Hill left the field at the break leading 45-20.

Esposito threw a 75-yard touchdown pass to Moss to open the second half. Shaffer again put the ball through the uprights, upping the score, 52-20. A 24-yard field goal by Shaffer increased the score, 55-20. Huntington crossed the goal line on a two-yard run and was successful in their two-point attempt, closing the gap slightly, 55-28. Barter then tackled the Red Devil ball carrier for the safety and the two points, ending the period with a Brook Hill lead, 57-28.

Little happened in the final frame until under three minutes when Engqvist hit Moss on a 21-yard pass for the touchdown. Huntington got into the end zone on a two-yard run with eight seconds remaining in the game. The two-point attempt failed and the game ended in a Brook Hill’s win, 64-34.

Brook Hill (2-1) has an open date Friday, Sept. 20, and will travel to Coram Deo Academy (0-3) in Flower Mound where they will kick off at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27.